Digestion News and Research

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Digestion is the mechanical and chemical breaking down of food into smaller components, to a form that can be absorbed, for instance, into a blood stream. Digestion is a form of catabolism; a break-down of macro food molecules to smaller ones.

Random variability may contribute to differences in gut microbe populations, study finds

Within the human digestive tract, there are trillions of bacteria, and these communities contain hundreds or even thousands of species. The makeup of those populations can vary greatly from one person to another, depending on factors such as diet, environmental exposure, and health history.

6 Mar 2017

Study shows how ‘secondhand sugar’ can pass from mother to infant through breast milk

Add breast milk to the list of foods and beverages that contain fructose, a sweetener linked to health issues ranging from obesity to diabetes.

2 Mar 2017

Structure of unique amyloid fibrils could lead to discovery of new antibiotics

The highly pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus bacteria is one of the five most common causes of hospital-acquired infections. In the US alone, approximately 500,000 patients at hospitals contract a staph infection. It is the bacteria responsible for MRSA, for which there is no vaccine.

24 Feb 2017

NIH workshop: Zika-affected infants may face complex health and developmental problems

Children exposed to Zika virus in the womb may face complex health and developmental problems as they grow older, according to discussions at a National Institutes of Health workshop.

21 Feb 2017

Plant-based drug for hemophilia shows promise in animal models

People with hemophilia require regular infusions of clotting factor to prevent them from experiencing uncontrolled bleeding. But a significant fraction develop antibodies against the clotting factor, essentially experiencing an allergic reaction to the very treatment that can prolong their lives.

13 Feb 2017

Whole grain consumption increases calorie loss and metabolism, study suggests

A new study suggests that substituting whole grains for refined grains in the diet increases calorie loss by reducing calories retained during digestion and speeding up metabolism.

9 Feb 2017

Researchers uncover key molecular pathways behind gut bacterial imbalance during inflammation

A study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers has uncovered key molecular pathways behind the disruption of the gut's delicate balance of bacteria during episodes of inflammatory disease.

8 Feb 2017

New research shows that nuts can inhibit growth of cancer cells

Roasted and salted, ground as a baking ingredient or fresh from the shell - for all those who enjoy eating nuts, there is good news from nutritionists at Friedrich Schiller University Jena.

6 Feb 2017

Changes in astronaut's gut microbes linked to spaceflight

Northwestern University researchers studying the gut bacteria of Scott and Mark Kelly, NASA astronauts and identical twin brothers, as part of a unique human study have found that changes to certain gut "bugs" occur in space.

3 Feb 2017

UT Southwestern scientists discover gene that protects gut from IBD

UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have identified a gene that protects the gut from inflammatory bowel disease.

2 Feb 2017

Philip Chapper & Company Ltd to launch supplement to protect against macular degeneration

An innovative food supplement that provides advanced nutrition for the eyes is to be launched at Arab Health by British pharmaceutical wholesaler and distributor, Philip Chapper & Company Ltd.

25 Jan 2017

Tiny 'submarines' could help treat stomach diseases with acid-sensitive drugs

Tiny “submarines” that speed independently through the stomach, use gastric acid for fuel (while rapidly neutralizing it), and release their cargo precisely at the desired pH: Though it may sound like science fiction, this is a new method for treating stomach diseases with acid-sensitive drugs introduced by scientists in the journal Angewandte Chemie.

24 Jan 2017

Researchers uncover how stress hormone prevents digestive enzymes from damaging pancreas

UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have uncovered the mechanism by which the stress hormone FGF21 keeps digestive enzymes from damaging the pancreas.

18 Jan 2017

Scientists use pluripotent stem cells to generate human stomach tissues in laboratory

Scientists report in Nature using pluripotent stem cells to generate human stomach tissues in a petri dish that produce acid and digestive enzymes.

5 Jan 2017

UCLA-led consortium receives $8.6 million NIH grant to map the heart's nervous system

A consortium directed by UCLA's Dr. Kalyanam Shivkumar has received a three-year, $8.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to map the heart's nervous system.

23 Dec 2016

TPC toxicologists warn about hidden dangers of button batteries to children

Button batteries are small round batteries found in items such as toys, greeting cards, watches, hearing aids, games and flashing jewelry—all products in the average American household during the holiday season.

20 Dec 2016

Leading journal publishes article about ciliate lipases as therapeutic candidates for oral treatment of EPI

Cilian AG, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of subunit vaccines, enzymes and monoclonal antibodies, announces that the European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, the international, peer-reviewed, online publication journal, has published an article entitled: Novel ciliate lipases for enzyme replacement during exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.